Flywheel structure



Dec. 14, 1926. 1,610,504

S. VVZ (I. F11"FS FLYWHEEL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 5, 1926 IN V EN TOR am 0M6?" X BY wwm A TTORNEY l atented 14-, 1926.

rarest SILAS-VJ. C. FTTTSQOE ALAIVIEDA; GALIFOENTA; AS3161? OB, B- i' 'lliE lfTE ASSIGNIWENT-S,

'10 STANDARD HEATZNG 6n REFRIGERATIN-G C'GIE'EPANE OF CALIFORNIA, O-F- FRANCISCO, CALIFOE'NIA, ACORl?OIt-ATIONO;F CALTFGRNIA.

\ FLYVZHEEL STRUCTURE.

Application filed January My invention relates broadly to flywheel structures, but more particularly to a flywheel, and bearing. therefor for use in con-- nection with high-speed gas compressors.

Gas. compressors for refrigerating units that are now commonly installed in homes are subject to a great deal of service attention, so much so that the selling price of such units is. of necessity very high, due to the anticipated future service calls after installation andthe renewal of certain parts that eventually cause trouble with attendant loss of efficiency in. the refrigerating system.

The prime object of my present invention is to remedy this serious situation, and thereby reduce the selling price to a figure that is as attractive comparatively as that of the many other mechanical labor-saving devices on the market for permanent acces sories to the home, apartment house and the like,and, at the same time produce a refrig crating unit that requires no more service attention thanv the average vacuum cleaner or washing machine.

The above referred to and heretofore serious defects have been at the flywheel of the belt-driven gas compressor, and at the bearing therefor and the stuffing box of the shaft adjacent the bearing. The overhung rapidly revolving flywheel, due to its mass and momentum, in due time causes its bearing and stuffing box to wear elliptical in shape, which results in detrimental vibration of the compressor and leakage of oil that lowers the efficiency of this unit in the refrigerating system to such an extent that service from the. dealer or factory becomes absolutely imperative.

The objects of my invention include a stufling box extending from the frame of the compressor, the transference of the. remotely overhung flywheel to Within very close proximity. of the compressor frame, the enlargement of the flywheel bearing and its bearing surface, the provision of an oilless bearing bushing, the transference of the flywheel and its inherent weight from the revolving shaft of the compressor to the stationary stuffing box, novel means on the flywheel for connecting the same to the shaft and which means present smooth unobstructed surfaces that will. not catch the clothing of an operator, and a housing embodying 5, 192 Serial no. 79,304.

the said connecting means andalsoj housing adjusting means for the packing of the stuf ling box, the whole structure being virtually proof against leakage of oil at the shaft andv the flywheel bearing. i

The invention possesses, other advantageous features, some of which, with theforegoing, will 'be set forth at'length in the" following description where I shall'outline in full that form of the invention which I- have selected for illustration in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the pres ent specification. In said drawing, lhave shown oneform of my invention, butit is to be understoodjthat Ido not limit myself to such form, since the invention, as ex pressedin the claims, may be embodied'in a plurality of forms. I

Referring to said drawing: The figureshows my invention per se in central cross-section and attached to the 7 frame of a machine.

The numeral 1 indicates a portion of the sideimll ofthe frame of anyinachine that can employ my invention to, advantage, such as a gas compressor. The stuflingbox 2 may be cast to the said sidewall or connected thereto as shown by bolts 8through the flange l. The box extends outwardly from the frame, and at its center is a bore tofittingly receive the shaft 5. of the machine. Concentric with the bore is the usual rebore for any approved packing 6. In and at the end of the rebore is a snug fitting gland '4" for retaining the packing inthe box The concentric wall of the box is indicatedj at 8 and the outer end thereof is threaded to adjustably receivethe nut 9 for forcing the gland 7 on the packing to compress the same about the shaft 5. The nut may have a knurled outside surface. I

A snug fitting bushing 10 ofoilfsoaked' wood or other suitable self-lubricating material may surmount'the. stuffing box wall, 8, between thenut 9 and the flange f and may have a diameter greater than that of the nut.

Over the bushing is snugly received a flywheel 11 having a. hub 12 which has a socket extension 13 of a bore and depth to house the gland and nut with suitable longitudinal adjusting space for the latter two elements. The end of the socket hub may be closed as shown, and the said end is concentrically bored to firmly receive the end 14: of the shaft 5. The flywheel is coupled, in this instance, to the shaft by means of a pin 15 which may be tapered by preference and d1 ven through corresponding holes formed in the shalt and hub extension. The pin ends are preferably made flush with the surface of the hub so as to be continuous with the smooth surfaces oi the hub to avoid all projections and thereby eliminate the possible catching of clothing thereon. The pin may be backed out at will when occasions arise to adjust the packing.

In operation the bearing for the flywheel will at times be the outside cylindrical surface or the stalling box which has substantially a length equal to the face or the beltdl'iven flywheel 11, and should the box become heated and expand, the bushing 10 may then bind or freeze onto the box, and the flywheel will at such times bear and turn on the bushing, which may be considered as a floating one and will follow the course of least resistance. For all practical purposes I find that the oil 16 in the machine suiticiently lubricates and cools the shaft 5, and that my flywheel structure is proof against oil leakage from the interior to the e:;te rior, and thus I conserve all the oil which heretofore leakage thereof has been a constant source of annoyance and trouble of a serious nature.

What I claim as new and desire patent protection thereon of the United States is the following:

1. A flywheel structure for a gas compressor comprising a stufiing box extending outwardly from the compressor, a flywheel hav ing a closed-ended hub journaled on and encasing said box, and oil-tight coupling means carried by the flywheel and adapted to engage the shaft of the compressor.

2. A flywheel structure for a gas compressor, comprising a stuffing box extending outwardly from the compressor, an oil-absorbing bushing sleeved on said lJOlC, a flywheel having an oiltight closed-ended hub journaled on said bushing, and means for coupling the flywheel to the shaft or the compressor; said hub and bushing being formed with broad bearing areas whereby to absorb traces of oil leaking past the stufling box.

3. A flywheel structure comprising a stuliing box, a self-lubricating bushing,

journaled on said stutiing box, and a flywheel; the stuliing box having a length greater than the face of the flywheel journaled on said bushing, the bushing being of a length substantially that of the face of the flywheel and adapted to surmount the stufiing box, a compression gland for the interior oi the stuliing box and a compression nut for the exterior of the gland and the stuffing box and the flywheel having a hub and extension thereon, the hub adapted to surmount the bushing and the extension the compression nut.

A flywheel structure comprising a stalling box, a self-lubricating bushing journaled on said stuliing box, and a flywheel; the stuiiing box having a length greater than the face of the flywheel journaled on said bushin the bushing being of a length substantially that ol the face of the llywheel and adapted to mount the stalling box, a compression glam l for the interior of the stuiiing box and a compression nut for the exterior of the gland and the stui'iing box; and the flywheel having a hub and extension thereon, the hub adapted to surmount the bushi g and the extension-the compression nut; and the said extension having a closed end and carrying titted removable means for coupling the n wheel to a shaft, the said end being a seal against oil leakage. a. 1'1 flywheel .cture comprising a stalling box, a so ubricating bushing jeurnaled on said stuning box, and a flywheel, the stui'iing box having a length greater than the face of the flywheel journaled on said bushing, the bushing being of a length substan tiall i that of the face oi: toe liywheel and adapted to surmount the stui box, a compression gland. for the interior of the stuliing box and a compression nut for the exterior of the gland and the stuiling box; and the flywheel having a hub and extension thereon, the hub adapted to surmount the bushing and the extension the compression nut; anti the said e1 sion having a closed end and carrying titted removable means for 1 1' +1 .cu. Mu p 1 .c cou ling tie n uncr to a shalt, too said end being a seal against oil leakage; the

said compression justable and he tension.

In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature.

SILAS W. C. FITTS.

land and nut being adr... within the said e1;- 

